Multiple socket for electric lamps.



No. 889,812. PATENTBD JUNE Z, 1908.

F. J, RUSSELL. MULTIPLE SOCKET FOR ELEGTRIG LAMPS.

APPLIGATIO'N FILED 1320.18, 1907.

2W TAKE 83E 8,

P. J, RUSSELL. MULTIPLE SOCKET FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS.

APPLIGATION FILED DEG.18,1907.

PATENTED JUNE 2, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WIT 23555;

WX/W

UN STATES razrnnr nnicn.

FRANK .T. RUSSELL,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Specification. of Letters Patent.

Patented dime $5, 1908.

Application filed December 18, 1907. serial No. 407,0.

tiple sockets or cluster fixtures, and the main objects oi my invention are to construct a multiple socket with the fewest possible number of parts and the simplest forms oi the parts, both of porcelain or other insula tion and the metal, and with the fewest possible number ofscrews, and with consequent economy of manufacture, simplicity and ease cl assembling, reliability and strength in use, and good separation of the metallic currentca'rryiin, parts of opposite polarity. These objects 1 attain by the construction which I will now describe and which has as an important characteristic feature. the construction ol' tho cluster in what may be termed skeleton l'orm, dispensing with the use of the insulating base cormnonlyemployed in socket clusters as heretofore made.

in the accompanying d 'awinrs Figure 1 is a vertical section of one form of cluster coustru-ctod in accordance with my invention Fir. 2 is a plan view oi the same; Fig. 3 is'a sectional view cl a modification; Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View, andl ig. 5 a sectional plan, of anothermodification; Figs. 6, 7 and S are sectional views of other several modifications; and llig'. 9 is a sectional view or" still another modification. Each construction of my improved 1l1Ul-- tiple socket comprises only three principal parts, namely, the canopy or cover. the sockets and the two conducting pieces (prch erably rings), electrically connected one to one set of lamp terminals, and the other to the other of lamp terminals in the several --sockots, and the several sockets are supported in the canopy, while the two conductingr pieces are supported independently of each other in the insulating portions oi the sockets. By this means, the usual common insulating base to support thelamp terminals or conductingrings or plates is dispensed with. And lur herniore, this construction permits a dealer or other person provided with the units, to readily assemble a cluster with two, three, onother number of lights,

le Socket forlfllectrie Lamps,

and so make it unnecessary to wait to have an order filled from the factory.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, .C is the sheet -in,each case will have formed in its walls the number of hole'saccorchngto the number of lights for which it s intended. This canopy usual. or suita'bleway for mechanical attachment to the back piece on which it is to be mounted. In Fig. 2, l have indicated it as adapted to be secured by screws through holes 0 to any supporting plate. In Fig. 3 I .have indicated it as provided with spring latches 10 to engage a fiange 12 on a metallic back plate D which has a screw nipple d for attachment to a pipe; tons 11 may be provided to be thumb and fingers to free the latches from the flange. Other well known or mechanical means may be employed to detachably secure the canopy to its support.

sockets are shown in the cluster, preferably formed of'porcelain or other suitable insulating material in cup-shape, and

are made of'a diameter snugly within, the holes in the canopy, and

formed with shoulders a, such that when the s ioulders will bear against the walls of the canopy and support the sockets in position against thrust from the inside, as shownin Fig. l. llchind the shoulders (I, the socket bodies are preferably beveled, as shown, to permit of a close assembling where a large (see Fig. $7.) The lamp-receiving terminals in the sockets may be constructed in any convenient lorm.

screw to receive the threaded ring of an Edison lamp base is formed of a spirally twisted wire B, the outer end of the coil being let into agroovc (1 in the mouth. of the socket body, so as to prevent the clamping action or the coil, which would otherwise be liable to occur in unscrcuing of the coil is passcd out through an opening in the back wall of the socket body and is l conducting piece E, which Ihave shown as metal domeshaped canopy or cover, which and in this case, butpressed by the to pass into and fit at their rear ends thesockot bodies are sockets are inserted into their respective" oIpemngs from the inside oi the canopy, these number of sockets are grouped in one canopy,-

In Figs. 1 and 2, I have shown how the a lamp. Tl'iecthcr end there hooked or otherwise lbrmcd. for-1110 chemical and electrical connect on with lhc' at its margin may be constructed in any I The bodies of the several sockets A, (four Fig. 2), are I i at a simple wire ring (Figs. 1 and 2.) This ring E, which is thus supported by the insulation of the several sockets, at the same time aids in holding the several sockets in position in the canopy, as well" as su plying current to the several lamp termina s B, has its ends connected to a binding post 6, (Fig. 2), with a binding screw e to which one of the supply wires is to be connected. The central contacts for the several sockets may be formed by the other conducting piece F itself, and I have so shown it in Figs. 1 and 2. This conducting piece F I have shown in these figures as also made of awire ring with its ends connected to a binding post f, with screw f for attachment of the second s'u ply wire. In

' the center of the back wall of the insulation of each socket, I- form a transverse slot of sullicient size for the admission of a sufficient ortion of the ring F to project through and into the interior of the socket and to there present a metallic surface to form the central contact for the end terminal of an Edison lamp base. As in the case of the conducting piece E, so also this conducting piece F is thus supported by the insulating ositions of the se eral sockets but independently of the ring E, and with a suificiently large air space between to prevent any danger of shortlcircuit between these parts of opposite polarity.

-This ring F", as well as the ring E, also aids in holding the sockets mechanically in place in the cane y against rotary motion, as well as inward t rust's.

In Fig. 3, I have shown a ring, similar to the ring F, but here marked F as provided with bent loops f 2 assing into openlngs a in the base of the soc et body A, in such a way that when a lamp is screwed into place in the socket, it will tend to bind the loop f which thus forms the central contact against the back of the socket body.

In Figs. 4 and 5, I have shown how the other ring, here marked E may be formed into a single loop or coil e -to itself form the lamp-receivin and holding ring. In this case, the insu ating body A of the socket is shown as made open at the back for the convenient insertion of the coil c.

In the modification, Fig. 6, I have shown the socket as provided with the common form of Edison screw shell 13, rovided with a hook b projecting through t e rear wall of the socket body for mechanical and electrical connection with the conducting ring E, while the central contact in the bottom of the socket is formed of a yoke-shaped piece g with a screw g for mechanical and electrical connection with the conducting ring F. In Fig. 7, the ring F is shown as projecting into the interior of the socket to form the central contact, while an Edison screw shell B" has an extension i ece 6 connected by a screw to a flat ring 5 v in Fig. 8, the central contact of the socket is shown as a headed screw h, threaded into the legs of a loop h (tapped to receive the screw), and which loop embraces the ring F. In Fig. 9, I have shown in addition to the usual arrangement of lamps radiating from the cluster in an inclosedposition, how a central vertically endent lamp may be added in-my improved skeleton construction. For this purpose, each of the wire conductin rings, (E and F of. Figs. 1 and 2), here II1&Ik8( E and F respectively, is formed with a downward loop e (fi), one for connection to the spiral coil, and the other to form the central contact, of the bottom socket, as will be readily understood.

I claim asm invention 1. A multiple socket having a canopy, with a plurality of sockets supported in the canopy and two conducting pieceselectrically connected one to one set of socket lamp contacts and the other to the other set of socket lamp contacts, said two conducting pieces being supported independently of each other by the insulating portions of the sockets, and at the same time serving to hold the sockets in place in the canopy.

2. A multiple socket having a canopy,

with a plurality of sockets supported in the canopy and two conducting rings electrically connected one to one set of socket lamp contacts and the other to the other set of socket lamp contacts, said two conducting rings being supported independently of each other by the insulating portions of the sockets, and at the same time serving to hold the.

sockets in place in the canopy.

3. A multiple socket having a canopy, with a plurality of sockets supported in the canopy and two conducting metallic wire rin s electrically connected one'to one set of soc et lam contacts and the other to the other set 0i socket lamp contacts, said two conductin metallic wire rings being su ported in ependently of each other by t e insulating portions of the sockets, one of the wire rings havin portions extending into the sockets to form am contacts.

4. A multiple soc et having'a canopy with a plurality of sockets inserted from within through openings in the canopy and having ers to bear on the canopy and two conshoul ducting pieces electrically connected one to one set 0 socket lamp contacts and the other to the other set of socket lamp contacts and i i 120 mechanically holding the sockets in place.

5. A multiple socket having a canop with a pluralit of sockets having insulating odies inserted om within through openings in the canopy and having shoulders to bear on the canopy and two conducting pieceselectrically connected to the respective socket lamp terminals and mechanically holding the sockets in place.

6. A multiple socket, having a canopy, with a plurality of sockets supported in the canopy' and two conducting pieces electric-i ally m'mneoted one to one setof socket lamp contacts and the other to the other set of socket lamp contacts, said two conducting said conducting sockets. ,l 7. A lnultlpl'e'socke't, having a canopy,

pieces extending into the witlna plurality of sockets supported in the canopy and two conducting pieces electric ally connected one to one set ofsocket lamp contacts and the other to the other setof sockets in place in the canopy, and one of socket lamp contacts, said two conducting pieces being supported independently of each other by the insulating portions of the SOG-kfi ets and at the same time serving to hold the socketsin place in the canopy; and both of said conductingpieces extending into the sockets. i s i In testimony whereof I have signed my narneto this specification; in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK J. RUSSELL. Witnesses:

HUBERT HoWsoN, WILLIAM 'ABBE. 

